DOCSLIB.ORG

Internet Research Cheetahs Page of 1

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Internet Research Cheetahs Page of 1 Internet Research Cheetahs CHEETAHS http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/cheetah/ The cheetah is the world's fastest land mammal. With acceleration that would leave most automobiles in the dust, a cheetah can go from 0 to 60 miles (96 kilometers) an hour in only three seconds. These big cats are quite nimble at high speed and can make quick and sudden turns in pursuit of prey. Before unleashing their speed, cheetahs use exceptionally keen eyesight to scan their grassland environment for signs of prey—especially antelope and hares. This big cat is a daylight hunter that benefits from stealthy movement and a distinctive spotted coat that allows it to blend easily into high, dry grasses. When the moment is right a cheetah will sprint after its quarry and attempt to knock it down. Such chases cost the hunter a tremendous amount of energy and are usually over in less than a minute. If successful, the cheetah will often drag its kill to a shady hiding place to protect it from opportunistic animals that sometimes steal a kill before the cheetah can eat. Cheetahs need only drink once every three to four days. Female cheetahs typically have a litter of three cubs and live with them for one and a half to two years. Young cubs spend their first year learning from their mother and practicing hunting techniques with playful games. Male cheetahs live alone or in small groups, often with their littermates. Most wild cheetahs are found in eastern and southwestern Africa. Perhaps only 7,000 to 10,000 of these big cats remain, and those are under pressure as the wide-open grasslands they favor are disappearing at the hands of human settlers. http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/AfricanSavanna/Facts/fact-cheetah.cfm CHEETAH Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus and Species: Acinonyx jubatus THE WORLD'S FASTEST LAND MAMMAL IS VULNERABLE TO EXTINCTION THROUGHOUT ITS RANGE PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION Built more like greyhounds than typical cats, cheetahs are adapted for brief but intense bursts of speed. They have wiry bodies and small heads. Their coats are golden or yellowish, embellished with many small black spots, and their tails are long with a few black bands and sometimes a white tip. Black stripes run from their eyes down to the corners of their mouths. SIZE Cheetahs grow to between three and a half and four and a half feet long, not including their 30- inch tails. They weigh between 75 and 145 pounds and stand two to three feet tall at the shoulder. Males tend to be a bit more robust and weigh about ten pounds more than females. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION Page !1 of !104 Internet Research Cheetahs Cheetahs live in small, isolated populations mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. They are very rare in southern Algeria and northern Niger, and range from Senegal east to Somalia and south to northern South Africa. A few have been reported from Iran. However, many of their strongholds are in eastern and southern African parks. STATUS The cheetah is listed as vulnerable on the World Conservation Union's (IUCN's) Red List of Threatened Animals. HABITAT Savannas, both open and more densely vegetated, give cheetahs the open areas they need for quick stalks and chases. They are not found in forest areas or wetlands. NATURAL DIET Cheetahs eat primarily hoofed mammals weighing less than 90 pounds, including gazelles and young wildebeest. They will also eat smaller game such as hares, warthogs, and birds. NATIONAL ZOO DIET The Zoo's cheetahs eat ground horse meat and sometimes beef, rabbits, and chicks. REPRODUCTION Cheetahs can breed at any time of year but tend to copulate in the dry season, with cubs being born at the onset of the wet season. Females reach breeding age by 21 or 22 months of age. Males live in small permanent groups called coalitions, which are usually made up of brothers. Males are drawn to females in heat, but only one male in a coalition usually mates with the selected female. On average, three cubs are born about three months after mating takes place. Until five or six weeks old, the cubs remain hidden; if she needs to move, the mother carries them from place to place. After five or six weeks, cubs follow their mothers and share her kills. Cheetah cubs wean at about three months old. LIFE SPAN In zoos, cheetahs may live up to 17 years, though the average is 8 to 12. No one has studied cheetah longevity in the wild, though cub mortality is very high and about 90 percent die before they are 3 months old. BEHAVIOR Female cheetahs live alone, except when raising cubs. They rarely associate with other cheetahs, except when ready to mate. Males live in small permanent groups called coalitions, which are usually made up of two to four brothers. To avoid lions and leopards, cheetahs usually hunt in the middle of the day. Cheetahs stalk their prey, approaching to within about 50 feet before dashing out from cover and sprinting at the targeted animals. Cheetahs grab their victims' throats and suffocate their quarry within a few minutes. After securing their meal, they may drag it to nearby cover. Despite their best efforts to hide their catches, their kills are often stolen by larger predators and picked at by hordes of vultures. Lions and hyenas also eat cheetah cubs; lions and leopards also kill adults. PAST/PRESENT/FUTURE Once widespread across arid Africa, into the Middle East and east to India, the cheetah has suffered dramatic declines over the last century. It now lives in Africa, and a few may survive in Iran. Hunted for their spotted coats and because they sometimes attack livestock, they disappeared from many areas. More recently, widespread habitat destruction has fragmented cheetah habitats, isolating many populations. In many areas, the cheetah's prey has been overhunted by people. Scientists have also found that many cheetahs suffer from genetic defects due to inbreeding, possibly the result of a population bottleneck—a sharp decline—that occurred perhaps as far back as 10,000 years ago. Among other things, inbreeding could raise cub mortality, lower cheetahs' resistance to disease, and cause infertility. An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 wild cheetahs survive. Cheetah strongholds, where possible, must be connected to allow Page !2 of !104 Internet Research Cheetahs genetic interchange if this species is to survive. Also, conflict between cheetahs and humans needs to be moderated. For example, in Namibia, ranchers may legally shoot cheetahs that prey on livestock. FUN FACTS A sprinting cheetah can reach 45 miles per hour within 2.5 seconds. Top speed—up to 64 miles per hour—can only be briefly sustained. In the 16th century, emperors and other royalty hunted gazelles with trained cheetahs. A FEW CHEETAH NEIGHBORS Thomson's gazelle (Gazella thomsonii): Within its range, this smallish, striped animal is a favored prey of the cheetah. Beisa oryx (Oryx gazella beisa): A large, long-horned antelope with black stripes on its flanks and face. Vulturine guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum): A bare-headed gamebird with dazzling black, blue, and white plumes. By saving cheetah habitat, we protect these and many other animals. https://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/cheetah QUICK FACTS Scientific name: Acinonyx jubatus Weight: 110 to 140 lb. Size: 30 in. at the shoulder Life span: 10 to 20 years Habitat: Open plains Diet: Carnivorous Gestation: 90 to 95 days Predators: Eagles, humans, hyenas, lions Where do cheetahs live? The cheetah's habitat has been reduced by 76%, and they occur widely but sparsely in the regions they still inhabit. Southern and Eastern Africa are strongholds for cheetah populations. What do cheetahs look like? Cheetahs have long, slim, muscular legs; a small, rounded head set on a long neck; a flexible spine; a deep chest; special pads on its feet for traction; and a long tail for balance. It is also the only cat that cannot retract its claws, an adaptation to help maintain traction like a soccer player’s cleats. It also bears distinctive black "tear tracks" running from the inside corner of each eye to the mouth, which may serve as an anti-glare mechanism for daytime hunting. The cheetah is a fast but timid predator. Cheetahs usually prey on small antelopes such as Thomson's gazelles and impalas, but they also hunt small mammals and birds. The cheetah gets as close to the prey as possible, then in Page !3 of !104 Internet Research Cheetahs a burst of speed, it tries to outrun its quarry. Once the cheetah closes in, it knocks the prey to the ground with its paw and suffocates the animal with a bite to the neck. Once a cheetah has made a kill, it eats quickly and keeps an eye out for scavengers—lions, leopards, hyenas, vultures, and jackals will steal from this timid predator. Cheetahs are a little introverted. The cheetah is basically a solitary animal. At times, a male will accompany a female for a short while after mating, but most often, the female is alone or with her cubs. Cheetah mothers spend a long time teaching their young how to hunt. Small, live antelopes are brought back to the cubs so they can learn to chase and catch them. http://cheetah.org/about-the-cheetah/for-kids/ Cheetah Speed :The cheetah is the world’s fastest land animal. They can run 70 mph (or 110 kph), which is as fast as cars drive on the highway. The cheetah can reach its top speed in just 3 seconds! Tail like a rudder: The cheetah has a long, muscular tail that has a flat shape.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission Seattlenwf
    THE FUR SEALS AND OTHER LIFE OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS, ALASKA, IN 1914 By Wilfred H. Osgood, Edward A. Preble, and George H. Parker I Blank page retained for pagination CONTENTS. Palll!. LgTTERS OF TRANSMITTAL........•...........'............................................. II LETTER OF SUBMITTAL................... ................................................. 12 INTRODUCTION............... .. 13 Personnel and instructions. ............................................................. 13 Investigations by Canada and Japan... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. IS Itinerary , .. " . .. IS Impartial nature of the investigation " '" . 16 Acknowledgments................. 16 THg PRIBILOF ISLANDS..................................................................... 17 General description...................... .. 17 Vegetation. 18 Climate............. 18 CHARACTER AND HABITS OF THE FUR SEAL IN BRIEF....... ................................. 18 G'eneral characteristics. ................ .. .............................................. 18 Range.................................................................................. 18 , Breeding habits ; ........................ 19 Habits of bachelors : ......................... 20 Age of seals... ;. ....................................................................... 20 SEALING HISTORY IN BRIEF................................................................. 21 Russian management " .. .. 21 American occupation and the leasing system : . .. ... 21 The growth of pelagic sealing , "".. .. .. .. 22 The Paris Tribunal
    [Show full text]
  • MOVEMENTS, HABITAT USE, and ACTIVITY PATTERNS of a TRANSLOCATED GROUP of ROOSEVELT ELK by Matthew Mccoy a Thesis Prese
    MOVEMENTS, HABITAT USE, AND ACTIVITY PATTERNS OF A TRANSLOCATED GROUP OF ROOSEVELT ELK by Matthew McCoy A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of Humboldt State University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science June, 1 986 MOVEMENTS, HABITAT USE, AND ACTIVITY PATTERNS OF A TRANSLOCATED GROUP OF ROOSEVELT ELK by Matthew McCoy A F gam Director, Natural Resources Graduate Program 86/W-66/06/10 Natural Resources Graduate Program Number Ala M. Gillespi9( ABSTRACT In March 1982, 17 Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) were captured at Gold Bluffs Beach, Humboldt County, California and translocated to an enclosure 4 km east of Shelter Cove, Humboldt County. The animals were released from the enclosure in November 1982. Data were collected for eight radio-collared animals (seven adult females and one 4-year old male) January to December 1983. The number of herds varied from one (January through March) to four (October through December). Three female herds moved 45 km, 58 km, and 84 km south of Shelter Cove, while the radio-collared male remained within 16 km of Shelter Cove. Home range locations varied seasonally. Home range sizes were largest during the summer reflecting migrational and exploratory movements. Habitat use was disproportionate to habitat availability at the home range level during each season. Cultivated grasslands and riparian areas were used in proportions greater than their availability. Coastal Prairie use was greater than that available except in the Shelter Cove area. Shrub and forest habitat types were generally used less than that available. Animal distances to nearest road and water varied seasonally, but were greatest for radio-collared females during the spring.
    [Show full text]
  • A Study of How Dominance Rank Within a Herd of Resident Burchell’S Zebra (Equus Burchelli) at Ndarakwai Ranch Correlate to Frequencies of Other Behaviors
    SIT Graduate Institute/SIT Study Abroad SIT Digital Collections Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection SIT Study Abroad Fall 2010 Seeing Stripes: A Study of How Dominance Rank Within a Herd of Resident Burchell’s Zebra (Equus Burchelli) at Ndarakwai Ranch Correlate to Frequencies of Other Behaviors. Alexandra Clayton SIT Study Abroad Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection Part of the Zoology Commons Recommended Citation Clayton, Alexandra, "Seeing Stripes: A Study of How Dominance Rank Within a Herd of Resident Burchell’s Zebra (Equus Burchelli) at Ndarakwai Ranch Correlate to Frequencies of Other Behaviors." (2010). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 899. https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/899 This Unpublished Paper is brought to you for free and open access by the SIT Study Abroad at SIT Digital Collections. It has been accepted for inclusion in Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection by an authorized administrator of SIT Digital Collections. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Seeing Stripes A study of how dominance rank within a herd of resident Burchell’s zebra (Equus burchelli) at Ndarakwai Ranch correlate to frequencies of other behaviors. Alexandra Clayton Advisor: Reese Matthews SIT Wildlife Conservation and Political Ecology Fall 2010 Acknowledgements There are so many people that made this project possible, but I would first like to thank Peter Jones for allowing me the chance to conduct my study at Ndarakwai, and for allowing two Internet- starved students to use your wireless! It is a beautiful place and I hope to return someday. I also want to thank Thomas for letting us camp outside his house and to Bahati for making us the best chapatti and ginger tea we’ve ever had, and for washing our very muddy clothes.
    [Show full text]
  • Judging Dairy Cattle
    Judging Dairy Cattle The primary function of the dairy cow is the economical production of milk. It has been proven that quality type or form is directly related to function. In other words, a dairy cow with good quality type has the potential to efficiently and economically produce milk. Your task, as a producer of dairy cows, is to breed good quality cows. In this leaflet we will work towards these objectives to help you accomplish your task. Learn the desirable points of conformation in a quality dairy cow and heifer. Show you how to determine if a particular animal possesses these desirable points. The first step is to learn the parts of the dairy animal. Parts of the Dairy Cow Judging the Dairy Cow 4-H Manitoba 2019 Once you know the parts of the body, the next step to becoming a successful dairy judge is to learn what the ideal animal looks like. In this section, we will work through the parts of a dairy cow and learn the desirable and undesirable characteristics. Holstein Canada has developed a scorecard which places relative emphasis on the six areas of importance in the dairy cow. This scorecard is used by all dairy breeds in Canada. The Holstein Cow Scorecard uses these six areas: 1. Frame / Capacity 2. Rump 3. Feet and Legs 4. Mammary System 5. Dairy Character When you judge, do not assign numerical scores. Use the card for relative emphasis only. When cows are classified by the official breed classifiers, classifications and absolute scores are assigned. 2 HOLSTEIN COW SCORE CARD 18 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Jyoti (2019). Crowding, Group Size and Population Structure of The
    PLATINUM The Journal of Threatened Taxa (JoTT) is dedicated to building evidence for conservaton globally by publishing peer-reviewed artcles online OPEN ACCESS every month at a reasonably rapid rate at www.threatenedtaxa.org. All artcles published in JoTT are registered under Creatve Commons Atributon 4.0 Internatonal License unless otherwise mentoned. JoTT allows allows unrestricted use, reproducton, and distributon of artcles in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publicaton. Journal of Threatened Taxa Building evidence for conservaton globally www.threatenedtaxa.org ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) Communication Crowding, group size and population structure of the Blackbuck Antilope cervicapra (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mammalia: Cetartiodactyla: Bovidae) in the semi-arid habitat of Haryana, India Deepak Rai & Jyot 26 July 2019 | Vol. 11 | No. 9 | Pages: 14194-14203 DOI: 10.11609/jot.4788.11.9.14194-14203 For Focus, Scope, Aims, Policies, and Guidelines visit htps://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/about/editorialPolicies#custom-0 For Artcle Submission Guidelines, visit htps://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/about/submissions#onlineSubmissions For Policies against Scientfc Misconduct, visit htps://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/about/editorialPolicies#custom-2 For reprints, contact <[email protected]> The opinions expressed by the authors do not refect the views of the Journal of Threatened Taxa, Wildlife Informaton Liaison Development Society, Zoo Outreach Organizaton, or
    [Show full text]
  • Ecology and Habitat Suitability of Cape Mountain Zebra (Equus Zebra Zebra) in the Western Cape, South Africa
    Ecology and habitat suitability of Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra) in the Western Cape, South Africa by Adriaan Jacobus Olivier Thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Science at Stellenbosch University Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Faculty of AgriScience Supervisor: Dr Alison J. Leslie Co-supervisor: Dr Jason I. Ransom December 2019 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Declaration By submitting this thesis electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the sole author thereof (save to the extent explicitly otherwise stated), that reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third party rights and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. Jaco Olivier December 2019 Copyright © 2019 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved ii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Abstract Endemic to South Africa, the Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra) historically occurred throughout the Western Cape, and parts of the Northern and Eastern Cape. However, due to human impacts fewer than 50 individuals remained by the 1950’s. Conservation efforts over the past 50 years have resulted in the population increasing to over 4700 individuals and having moved on the IUCN red list, from Critically Endangered to Least Concern. As there are still many isolated meta-populations, CapeNature established a Biodiversity Management Plan for the conservation of Cape mountain zebra in the Western Cape. In 2001, 15 (six males and nine females) Cape mountain zebra was reintroduced into Bakkrans Nature Reserve, situated in the Cederberg Wilderness Area of South Africa.
    [Show full text]
  • From Birth to Colostrum: Early Steps Leading to Lamb Survival Raymond Nowak, Pascal Poindron
    From birth to colostrum: early steps leading to lamb survival Raymond Nowak, Pascal Poindron To cite this version: Raymond Nowak, Pascal Poindron. From birth to colostrum: early steps leading to lamb survival. Reproduction Nutrition Development, EDP Sciences, 2006, 46 (4), pp.431-446. 10.1051/rnd:2006023. hal-00900627 HAL Id: hal-00900627 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00900627 Submitted on 1 Jan 2006 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Reprod. Nutr. Dev. 46 (2006) 431–446 431 c INRA, EDP Sciences, 2006 DOI: 10.1051/rnd:2006023 Review From birth to colostrum: early steps leading to lamb survival Raymond N*, Pascal P Laboratoire de Comportements, Neurobiologie et Adaptation, UMR 6175 CNRS-INRA-Université François Rabelais-Haras Nationaux, Unité de Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRA, 37380 Nouzilly, France Abstract – New-born lambs have limited energy reserves and need a rapid access to colostrum to maintain homeothermy and survive. In addition to energy, colostrum provides immunoglobulins which ensure passive systemic immunity. Therefore, getting early access to the udder is essential for the neonate. The results from the literature reviewed here highlight the importance of the birth site as the location where the mutual bonding between the mother and her young takes place.
    [Show full text]
  • Udder Morphology, Milk Production and Udder Health in Small Ruminants
    J. Vrdoljak et al.: Udder morphology, milk production and udder health in small ruminants, et al.: Udder morphology, J. Vrdoljak REVIEW | UDK: 636.37 | DoI: 10.15567/mljekarstvo.2020.0201 REcEIVED: 17.10.2019. | AccEptED: 20.03.2020. Udder morphology, milk production and udder health in small ruminants Josip Vrdoljak1, Zvonimir Prpić 2*, Dubravka Samaržija 3, Ivan Vnučec 2, Miljenko Konjačić 2, Nikolina Kelava Ugarković 2 1Pleter usluge d.o.o., Čerinina 23, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia 2University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science and Technology, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia 3University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Dairy Science, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia *Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected] Abstract Mljekarstvo In recent years there has been an increasing trend in research of sheep and goat udder morphology, not only from the view of its suitability for machine milking, but also in terms of milk yield and mam- 70 (2), 75-84 (2020) mary gland health. More precisely, herds consisting of high-yielding sheep and goats as a result of long-term and one-sided selection to increase milk yield, have been characterised by distortion of the udder morphology caused by increasing the pressure of udder weight on its suspensory system. Along with the deteriorated milking traits, which is negatively reflected on the udder health, some udder mor- phology traits are often emphasized as factor of production longevity of dairy sheep and goats. Since the intention of farmers and breeders nowadays is to increase the milk yield of sheep and goats while maintaining desirable udder morphology and udder health, the aim of this paper is to give a detailed overview of the current knowledge about the relationship of morphological udder traits with milk yield, and the health of the mammary gland of sheep and goats.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of the Ram in the Impala (Aepyceros Melampus) Mating System
    University of Pretoria etd – Oliver, C M (2005) The role of the ram in the impala (Aepyceros melampus) mating system by Colin Malcolm Oliver Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MSc. (Veterinary Science) in the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria July 2002 University of Pretoria etd – Oliver, C M (2005) The role of the ram in the impala (Aepyceros melampus) mating system by Colin Malcolm Oliver Project Supervisor: Professor J.D. Skinner Veterinary Wildlife Unit Faculty of Veterinary Science Onderstepoort 0110 South Africa. ABSTRACT The role of territoriality was investigated using 25 impala rams in a site in South Africa. Field data were used to determine known rams as territorial and bachelors, as well as aspirant and indeterminate. The mean territorial tenure was 67.25 days, with a mean territory size of 21.0 ± 11.27 ha, compared to the home ranges of 34.1 ha ± 9.03 ha for territorial and 58.8 ha ± 33.35 ha for bachelor males. Territory boundaries seemed to remain constant through the season, and are smaller when bordering important features such as water holes, which appear to be neutral in terms of territoriality. Mating was observed on three separate dates between 16 May - 4 June 2001, three times by territorial males, the exception being an aspirant ram. The most important diurnal behaviour was feeding, followed by watching, walking, ruminating, resting and licking salt. It was found that bachelors browse more than territorial males, and all males browse and lick salt more in the non-rut.
    [Show full text]
  • The Structure of the Cow's Udder
    UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 344 The Structure of the Cow's Udder C. W. T u RN ER COLUMBIA, MISSOURI JANUARY, 1935 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Experiment Station EXECUTIVE BOARD OF CURATORS.-MERCER ARNOLD, joplin; H. J. BLANTON. Pario: GEORGE C. WILLSON, St. Louio STATION STAFF, JANUARY, 1935 WALTER WILLIAMS, L.L. D., President FREDERICK A. MIDDLEBUSH, Ph. D ., Acting President F B . MUMFORD, M S~ D. Agr., Director S. B. SHIRKY, A.M., Asst. to Director MISS ELLA PAHMEIER, Secretary AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY E. MARION BROWN, A.M.* A. G. HoGAN, Ph.D. Mtss CLARA FuHR, M.S.* L. D. HAIGH, Ph.D. E. W. CowAN, A.M. HOME ECONOMICS J.UTHitP. R. RICHARDSON, Ph.D. U. S. AsHwOJ.TH. Ph.D MABEL CAMPBELL, A.M. A.M. ]ESSIE ALICE CLINE, A.M. S. R. JoHNSON, ADELLA EPPEL GINTER, M.S. HELEN BERESFORD, B.S. AGRICULTtlRAL ECONOMICS BERTHA BtSBI!Y, Ph.D. 0. R. JoHNsoN, A.M ]ESSIE v. COLES, Ph.D. BEN H. FRA>lE, A.M. BERTHA K. WHIPPLE, M.S F. L. THOl<SEN, Ph.D c. H. HAl<llAil, Ph.D. HORTICULTURE AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING T. J. TALBI!kT, A.M. J. C. WooLEY, M .S. A. E. MuRNEEJ<, Ph.D. MAcJ: M. JoNES. M.S. H. G. SwARTWOUT, A.M. G. W. GILES, B.S. in A. E. GEO. CARL VINSON, Ph.D. FRAN!t Holi.SFALL, ]R., A.M. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY R. A. ScRilOEDER, 11.S. in Agr. GEOilGI! E. SMITH, B S. in Agr. E.
    [Show full text]
  • SKNP Wildlife Journal December 2017
    WILDLIFE REPORT SINGITA KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA For the month of December, Two Thousand and Seventeen Photo: Jacques Briam Temperature Rainfall Recorded Sunrise & Sunset Average minimum: 20°C (68°F) For the period: 58 mm Sunrise: 05h08 Average maximum: 33°C (91°F) For the year to date: 464 mm Sunset: 18h44 Minimum recorded: 14°C (57°F) Maximum recorded: 40°C (104°F) In the final month of 2017, we experienced warmer days and the increased promise of rain. The summer sun in the early morning brought with it the call of a multitude of bird species, that were in full song throughout the month. It also got hot very quickly, and the shortage of standing water early in the month meant that a late morning drives back along the N’wanetsi River would lead to regular sightings of zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, impala and elephants coming down to the riverine area for food, water and shade. Impala lambing season is still in full swing, but the young lambs have also now been joined by many young blue wildebeest. We have also had sightings of the odd sounder of warthog piglets. Most of the migrant bird species had arrived by the end of the month, particularly after some rain that fell in the latter parts of December. With the increased amount of standing water, there has been a boom in frog and insect activity, which has in turn, brought locally nomadic bird species from near and far. We are now seeing large amounts of lesser spotted eagles, and white stork, as they feast on insects and most notably, termites as they erupt after rain.
    [Show full text]
  • Accounting for Intraspecific Variation Transforms Our Understanding of Artiodactyl Social Evolution
    ACCOUNTING FOR INTRASPECIFIC VARIATION TRANSFORMS OUR UNDERSTANDING OF ARTIODACTYL SOCIAL EVOLUTION By Monica Irene Miles Loren D. Hayes Hope Klug Associate Professor of UC Foundation Associate Professor of Biology, Geology, and Environmental Science Biology, Geology, and Environmental Science (Chair) (Committee Member) Timothy Gaudin UC Foundation Professor of Biology, Geology, and Environmental Science (Committee Member) ACCOUNTING FOR INTRASPECIFIC VARIATION TRANSFORMS OUR UNDERSTANDING OF ARTIODACTYL SOCIAL EVOLUTION By Monica Irene Miles A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree of Master of Science: Environmental Science The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Chattanooga, Tennessee December 2018 ii Copyright © 2018 By Monica Irene Miles All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT A major goal in the study of mammalian social systems has been to explain evolutionary transitions in social traits. Recent comparative analyses have used phylogenetic reconstructions to determine the evolution of social traits but have omitted intraspecific variation in social organization (IVSO) and mating systems (IVMS). This study was designed to summarize the extent of IVSO and IVMS in Artiodactyla and Perissodactyla, and determine the ancestral social organization and mating system for Artiodactyla. Some 82% of artiodactyls showed IVSO, whereas 31% exhibited IVMS; 80% of perissodactyls had variable social organization and only one species showed IVMS. The ancestral population of Artiodactyla was predicted to have variable social organization (84%), rather than solitary or group-living. A clear ancestral mating system for Artiodactyla, however, could not be resolved. These results show that intraspecific variation is common in artiodactyls and perissodactyls, and suggest a variable ancestral social organization for Artiodactyla.
    [Show full text]